Betsy’s Best Granola Recipe

At Hello SWFL, we love hearing about local Mompreneur success stories and here’s another!

In my quest to have my kids eat healthier, I came across Betsy’s Best Almond Butter and became an immediate fan. Even more so, when I heard Betsy’s story and that she lives here in Southwest Florida.

Registered dietician Betsy Opyt started making nut butters in her home for her daughter, who was a picky eater. She enjoyed experimenting with healthy recipes and started making bigger and bigger batches and giving her nut and seed butters out to friends, family and coworkers. They encouraged her to go wider so she started selling a few hundred jars each weekend at Naples’ Farmers Market on Vanderbilt and Airport Road. Pleased with the response and selling out in four hours, she soon partnered with a friend to make it wider business in 2012.

Now, Betsy’s Best has a line of five spreads available in 2100 stores in 39 states including Whole Foods. Next up, she hopes to move beyond butters.

Meeting up with her, she also shared the following AH-MAZING granola bar recipe that’s easy for parents to whip up.

Healthy Granola Bar Recipe

1/2 c peanut, almond, or cashew nut butter

1/4 c honey, agave nectar, or coconut nectar

1 egg, or 2 egg whites

2 T canola oil or coconut oil

1 tsp vanilla

2 T chia seeds

1 1/2 c old fashioned oats

1 1/2 c rice krispies

1/2 c chopped walnuts

1/4 tsp Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

1/2 c dark chocolate chips

1/2 c dried fruit, cherries, raisins, cranraisins, or goldenberries

Beat nut butter, honey, eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla. Combine oats, cereal, salt, and chia, in a bowl and then add to liquid mixture. Stir in chocolate chips, walnuts, and dried fruits. Transfer to a 13×9 in pan and firmly press mixture with back of spatula or wax paper in baking pan.